Montecristo Cigar

Color

If you do any cigar browsing at all, you will see that there are dozens of possible different colors associated with cigars. But they all generally fall somewhere within this scale:
Double Claro: light green wrapper, very mild flavor
Claro: light tan wrapper, smooth and mild flavor
Natural: light brown wrapper, full bodied flavor
Colorado: reddish dark brown wrapper, robust and rich flavor
Colorado Maduro: dark brown wrapper, aromatic and rich flavor
Maduro: very dark brown wrapper, sweet and strong flavor
Oscuro: nearly black wrapper, very strong flavor

If you see a wrapper shade with a hue is slightly between the colors mentioned above, you can extrapolate what the flavor will be accordingly.

Size

Does cigar size really matter? The answer is: it depends. Different-sized cigars lend themselves to different cigar-smoking experiences. As you might expect, longer cigars take more time to smoke – which could translate into more enjoyment while you smoke them. But the length of the stogie is not related to the cigar's actual quality.

That being said, you should know how cigars are measured. The length of cigars is recorded in inches. But the width of the cigar is denoted in what is called ring gauge. The ring gauge is shown in increments of 64th of an inch. So for instance, a ring gauge of 56 would mean that the cigar is 7/8 (56/64) of an inch wide.

Both of these measurements will be denoted on the cigar's packaging, usually in this format: Length X Ring Gauge.

So if you see a cigar with the denotation of 6X64, you know that the cigar is six inches long and 1 (64/64) inch wide.

Country of Origin

You've probably heard about the mystique of "a great Cuban cigar." While Cuba is home to a long tradition of fine cigars, the nation does not have a corner on the market. Many other fantastic cigars are produced in places like Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. And unlike Cuba, these countries have trade agreements with the U.S. – which means they can legally be purchased in America.

Brand

You may hear other people bandy about specific cigar brands, such as Cohiba or Montecristo. While those are names of top-quality products, there are many lesser-known brands which are just as flavorful and enjoyable. Some of these brands include Davidoff, Macanudo, Ashton, Dunhill, or Arturo Fuente.

One major advantage to these lower-profile brands is that they are all legal for purchase in the United States, while Cohiba and Montecristo cigars are not. So if you happen to see a Cohiba or Montecristo cigar in an American cigar shop, be warned: they are probably fakes or knockoffs.

Manufacture

This one is easy: choose hand-rolled over machine-rolled. Every time. You'll be able to tell the difference.

The biggest thing to keep in mind when making your cigar selection is this: you decide what you like. Don't automatically choose what some cigar magazine or website tells you is the best cigar. Do some experimenting with different brands, colors, and flavors. Develop your tastes and preferences. Then smoke the cigars that taste the best to you.

The biggest part of smoking cigars like a connoisseur? Knowing what you like and being able to pick out a cigar that lets you enjoy it to its fullest!